By Emma Greenard, Events Coordinator
Sperm whale tooth scrimshaw, engraved on both sides with pictures of a whaling ship
in a stormy sea
One of the little-known trades of Great Yarmouth’s maritime history is one that is very much frowned upon in these modern times. Being a much larger and “grander” catch than the humble herring. Whales were a valuable commodity, as their oil was an important lighting fuel before the invention of electrical or gas lighting.
At least three of the towns leading merchants were involved in whaling. The whale’s body would have many uses; from its oil which was used for lamp fuel, cooking, tanning leather and in the manufacture of soap and paint.
Scrimshaws were often most common ‘souvenirs’ made by those involved in the industry, in which bones of the animal, such as sperm whale teeth, were carved with intricate maritime scenes.
Baleen, the filter-feeding system inside the mouths, from the jaw was used for stays for ladies’ corsets as it was strong but bendy. The whalers most common prey was the ‘Bowhead’ or Greenland Right Whale. Sadly, it was called the ‘right’ as it was considered the best species of whale to hunt as it could yielded up to 10,000 litres of oil. Today the Bowhead whale is listed on the endangered species list.
Even though London remained the single most important port dispatching 71% of British whalers in 1753. By the mid 1780’s the whaling trade in Great Yarmouth was booming, with the overall peak of the British whaling industry was in 1788. During that year eight whaling ships left the town, returning from Greenland with rich cargos.
However, the industry ended abruptly in 1797. The two of the main reasons being the Napoleonic Wars and the increasing threat of Privateers that roamed the seas. At least one of the town’s whaling ships was captured as it made its way along the coast of Norway. Most importantly, there was a decline in the demand for whale oil, due to the introduction of domestic gas lighting.
Just because there was an end of the whaling trade in Great Yarmouth did not mean that the hunting of these animals stopped.
In June 1891, the Gorleston whale was big news when a Lesser Rorqual whale was caught and killed by the Ranger Beach Company, a lifeboat crew, in the harbour after they had driven and stranded it in the cross piles of the harbour works. It was then ‘stuffed’ and went on show around the country.
Luckily whaling and the import of whale goods were made illegal in 1973 but there are many new threats to our whale populations. Human pollution such as entanglement of whales in fishing nets, swallowing plastic and pollution in the sea as well as being hit by boats has increased the amount of whales which have been washing up on our coastline.
Fun Fact Time!
You can find twelve different species of whales, dolphins and porpoises; collectively known as ‘cetaceans’, in the North Sea. The most common whale that can be spotted is the Minke whale, which is the smallest baleen whale, though they still can reach 8 metres long and up to 10 tonnes!
Larger whales are very rare in the North Sea but the most likely to be spotted is the humpback whale who come into the North Sea to catch a belly full of herring before returning to the ocean. Sperm whales have also been known to enter the North Sea but usually run into problems navigating the shallower coastal water and often get beached because of it.
Crafty Time!
(The scale of greatness: *beginners **Intermediate***expert)
We have put together a selection of different crafts inspired by the whales we have learnt about today! All these crafts can be made using recycled materials, so they are whale friendly!
Click on link or pictures for full instructions.
All these ideas are the creators own and adults please supervise when children are using tools especially knives or scissors.
*Paper Plate Whale
https://www.mymommystyle.com/whale-paper-plate-craft//
**3D Paper Whale
https://funfamilycrafts.com/paper-whale/
*** Egg Carton Whale
https://iheartcraftythings.com/egg-carton-whale-kids-craft.html
Time and Tide Museum 
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